The Boyce/Jefford Track and Field Committee on Thursday launched one of Guyana’s premier sporting events for 2015, the sixth annual Boyce/Jefford Classic to be held on August 15-16 at the Mackenzie Sports Club.
Details of the upcoming calendar event were unveiled during a press conference at Sleep In Hotel on Brickdam.
A key revelation was the announcement that four athletes from the world famous Racers Track Club in Jamaica will be competing at this year’s championships.
“This year we are committed to bringing quality competition” said Chairman of the Committee, Colin Boyce. “For the first time, we will be having a club out of Jamaica competing at our meet.”
Boyce then quickly reminded that track and field superstar, Usain Bolt is a member of the Racers Track Club.
He, however, noted that “local athletes should not be afraid” since “we asked for B class athletes who will be able to challenge our local athletes.”
Sprinters, Nicholas Maitland, Keno Burrell, Deandrea Whitehorne and Seidatha Palmer were the Jamaican athletes named to compete at the meet in Linden.
To add some more international flavor to the event, the Committee disclosed to the media that athletes will also come from neighboring Suriname (Danielle Clarke), Trinidad and Tobago (Tonya Nero, Mark London), Grenada (Kenisha Pascal), Bahamas (Petra McDonald) and St Vincent (Josh Hamilton).
US based Guyanese hurdler, Janea McCammon has also signaled her intentions to compete.
AS was the case last year, the winning club will pocket $600,000 with the runners up taking home $400,000, $250,000 and $150,000.
The top three finishers of each international event will be awarded cash prizes, with the winner bagging $50,000.
Co-founder of the Classic, Edison Jefford noted that the international two-day event has evolved into “Guyana’s premier track and field competition”.
Caribbean Airline’s, Dion Inniss, Digicel’s Gavin Hope, Director of Sport, Christopher Jones and Ansa McAL’s Anjeta Hinds who were in attendance used the watch word “growth” to describe the fixture. They lauded Boyce and Jefford for the staging and developing the event, noting that they were committed to continuing their partnership with the Classic.
The Track and Field Classic was also endorsed by coaches, Lindon Wilson, Robert Chisolm, Leslie Blacks and athletes present, including Natrena Hooper, Keith Roberts, Neisa Allen and Tiffany Carto.
Notes: Competition on the first day begins at noon while athletes will get in the blocks at 14:00hrs on the following day. Admission is $500. Gate prizes will be up for grabs.
As customary, the champion male and female athlete will receive $50,000 and trophy. Athletes are allowed to enter a maximum of three events. (Emmerson Campbell)
